Subiaco Dams

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD). The dam was built by the Romans at Sublaqueum, modern Subiaco, in the Roman province of Latium in central Italy on the river Aniene (Lat. Anio).

The highest Roman dam was the Subiaco Dam near Rome; its record height of 50 m remained unsurpassed until its accidental destruction in 1305.

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD).

The biggest of the three Subiaco Dams was the highest dam in the world until its destruction in 1305.

The biggest one was the highest dam in the Roman Empire, and even in the world until its accidental destruction in 1305.

The Romans built many dams and reservoirs for water collection, such as the Subiaco Dams, two of which fed the Anio Novus, one of the largest aqueducts of Rome.

The dam was built by the Romans at Sublaqueum, modern Subiaco, in the Roman province of Latium in central Italy on the river Aniene (Lat. Anio).

The largest of these dams was the highest dam in classical antiquity and remained in use until its destruction by a flood in 1305.

The relative abundance of Spanish dams below is due partly to more intensive field work there; for Italy only the Subiaco Dams, created by emperor Nero (54–68 AD) for recreational purposes, are attested.

The Romans built many dams for water collection, such as the Subiaco dams, two of which fed Anio Novus, the largest aqueduct supplying Rome.

The relative abundance of Spanish dams below is due partly to more intensive field work there; for Italy only the Subiaco Dams, created by emperor Nero (54–68 AD) for recreational purposes, are attested.

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD).

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD).

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD).

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD).

The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD). In the reign of Claudius (41 - 54) and Nero (54 - 68), the area around Subiaco formed an imperial summer residence, offering the possibility of hunting trips and parties in an idyllic landscape

The dam was built by the Romans at Sublaqueum, modern Subiaco, in the Roman province of Latium in central Italy on the river Aniene (Lat. Anio).

The dam was built by the Romans at Sublaqueum, modern Subiaco, in the Roman province of Latium in central Italy on the river Aniene (Lat. Anio).

The location lies some 75 km east of Rome.

The simple gravity dam was constructed of masonry and stood roughly 410m above sea level.

In the reign of Claudius (41 - 54) and Nero (54 - 68), the area around Subiaco formed an imperial summer residence, offering the possibility of hunting trips and parties in an idyllic landscape

Especially under Emperor Nero, luxurious villas emerged (Villa di Caccia, Villa of Horace, Villa of Trajan) stylistically foreshadowing Hadrian's Villa, which were built by the emperors themselves and by other high-ranking Roman families.

In order to secure the water supply of the metropolis of Rome, the aqueduct Anio Novus was erected under Trajan, at which point he built the dammed lakes as water reservoirs.

In order to secure the water supply of the metropolis of Rome, the aqueduct Anio Novus was erected under Trajan, at which point he built the dammed lakes as water reservoirs.

Of the original three dams, two continued to be preserved into the middle ages, but the last dam burst after a flood in 1305.

According to Arnold Esch, the original location of the dam is indisputedly the narrow area at the Ponte di San Mauro, the stream joining the Aniene at the road to Arcinazzo.

In Subiaco Abbey (Sacro Speco), near Subiaco, an image by an unknown painter is found, which was produced in 1428, i.e. 123 years after the dam's destruction.

The dam remained the largest to have been built in Europe until 1594, when the 46 m Tibi Dam was built in Spain and the highest on Earth until the construction of the Kurit Dam around 1350.